Originally Posted by
Roody
Seems like you're being pretty black&white about a complex issue. It's very difficult to find the "greenest" way to live, and it takes a lot of research and discussion. If you're not up to it, that's fine by me.
I think one good point here is that it is possible to eat meat that is sustainably produced, if that's the way you want to go. It will cost you more per pound of meat, but this might encourage you to eat more sensible amounts of meat. (By "you" I don't mean you personally.)
Besides, you do get what you pay for. Bear in mind that the USDA just recalled 143 million pounds of cheap hamburger because the cost-cutting producer got caught grinding up diseased animals. And they weren't caught by government inspectors because inspection is almost totally in the hands of the meat producers now. They were caught (in a manner of speaking) by "vege munching, bicycling hippie complete with kick ass piercings."
This is very true, it's a complex issue.
The lesson here, may be that things can no longer go on the way they have; even though it may have worked in the past. Resources and agriculture are being pushed to the limits with our expanding population. Ecosystems are being altered/affected at an alarming rate; and usually with dire consequences.
Unfortunately, by being a vegetarian, you may not be immune to
incidents. I remember last year when the majority of spinach in California was recalled because of existing and potential E.coli contamination. This was linked back to cattle (I believe), but nonetheless the food chain was affected.
I am a vegetarian for more than one reason. Initially it may have only been two reasons, but now, this decision is aligning even moreso with my political, moral, ethical, health and spiritual beliefs. But, realistically, to each their own. To say that I could care less about one's eating habits would not be true. If I'm accused by a sweeping statement, of being a
vege munching, bicycling hippie complete with kick ass piercings, so what. That type of statement says more about the person making it, than it does about me.
The point is
things are going to have to change. But people hate change. It elicites the unknown; and to most, the unknown elicites fear. And it doesn't matter if the fear is rational or not; it's fear. Thus, there can be much resistance. And many voices heard.
I think that remaining on a course of mass consumption of our finite resources, with little regard for consequences, other than the bottom line, is insanity.
Do I trust multi-national corporations to do the right thing, with respect to my best interests? Absolutely not! Their number one responsibility is to their investors vis a vis, their board of directors.
But because I state my opinion as such, I may then I'm accused of being a pampered socialist, that needs the gov't to look after my best interests. But that isn't true either. It's a very complex issue indeed.
People who want to see (be) change in the world, are doing it right now. And their doing it by changing their purchasing habits.